Tithing at ATM kiosks offers nebulous rewards
By Kay Bell • Bankrate.com

Even those with just a passing familiarity of the Bible know that "for everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven."

Few, however, would have foreseen the opening verse of Chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes as a premonition of ATMs in churches.

Marty Baker, lead pastor at Stevens Creek Community Church was among that small group keeping an eye on possible changes in how worshipers financially support their faiths. Three years ago, Baker decided it was the appropriate time for Stevens Creek to embrace electronic giving, and he created a company to produce ATM-like kiosks where congregants can use plastic to tithe.

Now, there's no more waiting for the passing of the plate for debit or credit card-carrying members of Baker's Augusta, Ga., church.

Instead, they can use one of the four e-giving stations located in the church's atrium. So far this year, Stevens Creek members have electronically donated around $200,000. The annual budget of the Church of God-affiliated ministry runs between $1.5 million and $2 million.

Baker is confident that e-giving will continue to grow -- at his church, as well as nationwide. Since Baker and his wife launched Automated Giving Solutions LLC, their separate, for-profit kiosk company that is marketed as SecureGive, they have placed the devices in eight other churches and are expanding. An Oregon ballet company soon will be utilizing a SecureGive kiosk, just in time to accept payments for its production of "The Nutcracker."

The key benefit for churches and other nonprofits is that they get some donations they might not have received or received as quickly. The key benefit for donors is that they can give in a familiar way that also, in some cases, gives back to them via their cards' added benefits.

Genesis of the new system
"About three years ago, we were going through a capital campaign at Stevens Creek," says Baker. "In doing so, you look at it from a corporate standpoint and also personally.

"I personally don't carry cash or a checkbook. I live life with debit card in hand and got to thinking that there are other people just like me. If they were prompted to give (to the church campaign), how would they?"

So, Baker began his search for a more modern way for church members to contribute.

"I thought, surely there is somebody out there that provides this technology to churches," he says. "The companies all said that's a great idea, but we don't do that. Several months passed and we (Patty, his wife and business partner) finally decided to provide this service for our church and other churches."

Church times are a-changing
Baker characterizes e-giving as a way for members to contribute in a way they find "culturally relevant." While such worldly considerations might strike some congregations as unseemly, they are embraced by ministers and members of the church that is regularly referred to as "The Creek."

Most churches today have an online presence where members will find information on services, scripture references and details of church projects. That information is part of Stevens Creek's Web page, too.

But you'll also find sermon podcasts, downloadable via iTunes. If you prefer, you can watch them online, along with a music-video style opening by Stevens Creek's "house band," complete with electric guitars.

So the installation of church-specific ATMs was, in Baker's and his congregation's view, a logical next step.

"What we realized is that the culture has advanced," says Baker. "We don't need to water down the message, but understand the culture, so we're able to speak into the lives of our members."

The church does that in its dress (no suits required on Sundays), its music (the band instead of a robed choir) and now, says Baker, in the way to bring offerings. The church's demographics also make it more open to change. Of its about 1,100 members, 70 percent are ages 40 and younger.